THE COMBATANT||KTH

CHAPTER 20

"The wedding date will be decided by the priest with the king father and will be announced in the next board meeting which will be the first official meeting for the new king." Namjoon reads out and rolls the paper in his hands to place it on the table.

"That's the report for this month, father." He sighs and leans back into his seat.

Taehyung scribbles a few words and numbers into his book and cleans the point of his dip pen with a cloth and places it in its stand.

"Ahh, so this will be the last time you will be reading reports for me. How old have I grown?" The old man removes his glasses and lifts his eyes from the stack of papers before him to the young people seated in the quiet study.

Jin chuckles and takes the stack, he binds them and gets up from his chair to place them in the respective draw.

"After me, all of you are going to take care of the kingdom. Although I told this multiple times, I'm going to tell it again. You are born in this family for a reason and you have to live for it." He pulls the strings of his robe tighter and opens his mouth to speak the wise words but gets interrupted.

"Make your decisions, not for yourself but the people of your kingdom," Alana recites the words which were repeated hundreds of times since her childhood.

"Royalty isn't a luxury, but a responsibility." Jin completes the words as he walks towards the table from the shelves and takes his seat.

The former king looks at his children in satisfaction and admiration.
"I can die peacefully anytime." He hums and takes a sip of his tea.

"Father!" Everyone in the room exclaims at once and he laughs heartily.

"Why? I'm going to die anyway. It's you, young people who should live and enjoy your life now." He asks them with a teasing smile.

"Let's not talk about it father." Mia pouts and Alana nods at her.

"Okay, young ladies." He grins again and leans back into his chair once again. His eyes fall on taehyung whose eyebrows were furrowed and his eyes gazed into space.

"Taehyung-ah" he softly calls out but receives no response. Namjoon nudges his shoulder to gain his attention and he looks at him with a startled face.

"Hyung!" He says softly and realises everybody's eyes on him.

"Forgive me, I wasn't paying attention to the conversation." He apologises and everyone gives him worried looks.

"Is something troubling you, son?" His father asks and he answers with a soft smile.

"No, father. I just zoned out." He licks his lips and waits for him to speak.

"Hmm" the old man places his now empty cup on the table and looks at the young king.

"How's everything going on between you and princess Jung?" He asks and Taehyung gulps before answering. He nervously smiles and speaks out.

"Everything is going well, father. She's a capable and young woman." Everyone in the room stays stiff and carefully scrutinise the exchange.

"We haven't talked about this before. So, is there any objection from any of the side?" He asks and he feels namjoon tensing beside him. He breaks the nib of the pen and the ink spills on his robe. Alana hisses from the other side in annoyance and he gives her an apologetic smile.

"No father. There aren't any." He answers and the room goes back quiet again.

"That's good. Why don't you go check on her? Make sure she's comfortable and had enough dinner. I didn't see her having food at the party. She was with you all the while." His words come out smoothly in a convincing tone.